Page 79 of One Love

“Sir, we’re going to need you to step away now.”

My head snaps up from the captivating view of my kid being born long enough to narrow my eyes at this dude who clearly attended the University of Dipshit, in NoBedsideMannersLand.

Jordyn’s got a death grip on my hand, and by death grip, I mean I’m pretty sure she’s actively trying to sever every one of my nerve endings with her claws. I’m not kidding, pregnancy made her nails grow like they had one fucking mission…dismember me right here, right now.

But that’s okay. I’ll fucking take it and more.

Back to this so-called doctor.

“That’s my baby trying to push its melon-sized head through my wife’s vagina—”

“Not your fucking wife.” I ignore Jordyn’s love language, giving her a tiny squeeze since it’s all I’m capable of doing at this point.

“Tomayto, baby. Toe-May-Toe.”

“Yes, I understand that but I need to get between your wife’s legs—” Oh the motherfucker did NOT just tell me that.

“Not his fucking wife.”

“Not for lack of trying!” I throw back at her, my death glare firmly fixed on this nutwit.

“Sir?” A tall nurse with eyes like a doe, kind and patient, pats me on the shoulder and leans in.

“Yes?” I answer, moving back an inch.

“Jordyn needs your full attention right now, okay? Baby Novák is in good hands and you can cut the umbilical cord when the time comes, okay?”

I nod because I can’t take my eyes away from my incredible little demon who’s about to push an entire fucking baby out of her…but how? How does she not pass out from this pain? By the time we made it to the hospital, because Jordyn’s pain threshold is a little superior to most humans, it was too late for the epidural, so she’s going full Rambo on this one. Hell, I’m sure she would have laughed at my ass for even suggesting it.

“Okay, Jordyn, I need you to hold it…breathe, breathe, breathe. Now…push hard and long.” Jesus fucking Christ, hard and long? I do NOT need this dude using that kind of language while he’s got his face all up in J’s hoohah.

But then Jordyn reaches behind her head, fingers wrapping around the metal board while the other hand almost rips mine from my wrist. Just then she breathes, breathes, breathes and with the force of a fucking lion, she takes in a final deep breath, screaming long and loud and hard and holy fucking mother of my child, her scream is replaced by the most beautiful, most amazing sound I’ve ever fucking heard.

We lock eyes, Jordyn and I, a tiny moment for just the two of us before our entire world swells with more love than we could ever imagine.

“It’s a girl! Welcome to the world baby Novák!” I see the moment a tear falls from J’s left eye and it’s the exact same moment one falls from mine.

“Nováková,” I say, a little dazed, as the nurse brings the baby to J, all gooey and bloody and wet and holy shit, she has the lungs of an Olympian swimmer. Usually, last names in the Czech Republic, like most other Eastern European countries, would change the last names according to sex. J and I decided not to follow that tradition but I wanted to honor my roots for just that moment in time. My parents will be proud and are eager to meet my girls. In fact, they should be landing from San Francisco in about three hours.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I thought it was…”

“It is, it is.” I lean in, the confused nurse and the rest of the world ignored, kissing my woman’s sweaty brow, then whisper, “Thank you, you were awe-inspiring. You gave us a baby. A baby girl.”

Forehead to forehead, we both close our eyes before I back up and we stare at our perfect creation. She’s tiny and completely fucking bald and I wonder if she’ll stay like that. Until she opens her eyes and all I see is blue, blue, blue.

And for the third time in my life I fall completely and utterly in love.

“Welcome to the world, Kiara O’Neill Novák.”

Six Months Later

When Jordyn works all night on a clean up with her crew, I make sure the kolache is fresh for when she walks in the door. Kiara is in a baby sling wrapped around my chest as I movearound the kitchen, turning on the coffee pot at the sound of J’s Harley out front.

“Mom’s home!” Hallie skips into the kitchen, practically skidding to a stop beside me to kiss her baby sister on the forehead. “Any apricot, D?” She peeks around to the pastries on the counter and I grin, passing her the apricot one.

“I made this one especially for you, my little Myška. Wanna lose at COD when Kiki goes down for her nap?” I ruffle her blonde hair, careful not to jostle Kiara while I pour myself and J a fresh coffee.

“You wish. I’m gonna kick your ass.” Her voice is strong, determined, and full of laughter, which is abruptly paused when J walks into the kitchen.

---